Releasable heel hold-down device

ABSTRACT

A releasable heel hold-down device for a ski binding includes a base part secured to a ski with a housing displaceably secured on the base part. A first rocker and a second rocker are located within the housing. For holding the heel of a ski boot on the ski, a hold-down member is adjustably connected to the second rocker which is pivotally attached at spaced locations to the housing and to the base part. The first rocker is pivotally connected to the base part. A spring, positioned within the housing, biases the first rocker in the direction of the holddown member. The two rockers are interconnected by a toggle assembly consisting of first toggle levers pivotally attached to the first rocker and a second toggle lever pivotally joined to the first toggle lever and to the second rocker. The device is displaceable between a holding position securing a ski boot on the ski and a release position. The axes of pivotal attachment of the second toggle lever define a dead center line through which the axis of pivotal attachment of the first toggle levers to the first rocker passes in the displacement of the device between the holding and the release positions.

United States Patent [191 Unger RELEASABLE HEEL HOLD-DOWN DEVICE [76] Inventor: Paul Unger, Bruckwiesenstrasse 113, 8501 Altenberg, Germany 22 Filed: Mar. 6, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 338,433

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 3 Primary Examiner-Robert R. Song Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Toren, McGeady & Stanger [57] ABSTRACT A releasable heel hold-down device for a ski binding Aug. 20, 1974 includes a base part secured to a ski with a housing displaceably secured on the base part. A first rocker and a second rocker are located within the housing. For holding the heel of a ski boot on the ski, a holddown member is adjustably connected to the second rocker which is pivotally attached at spaced locations to the housing and to the base part. The first rocker is pivotally connected to the base part. A spring, positioned within the housing, biases the first rocker in the direction of the hold-down member. The two rockers are interconnected by a toggle assembly consisting of first toggle levers pivotally attached to the first rocker and a second toggle lever pivotally joined to the first toggle lever and to the second rocker. The device is displaceable between a holding position securing a ski boot on the ski and a release position. The axes of pivotal attachment of the second toggle lever define a dead center line through which the axis of pivotal attachment of the first toggle levers to the first rocker passes in the displacement of the device between the holding and the release positions.

13 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATfNTEM 3,830,511

SHEET 10$ 3 PATENTEDMIBZOW 3,830.51 1

SHEEI 30$ 3 I RELEASABLE HEEL HOLD-DOWN DEVICE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a releasable heel hold-down device for a ski binding and, more particularly, it is directed to the arrangement of the device in which a pair of rockers are pivotally mounted within a housing and interconnected by a toggle lever assembly for displacing the device between a holding position and a release position.

In the past notch arrangements have been used on releasable heel hold-down devices for ski bindings which operate in the release position as well as in the transition from the release position into the holding position. While such notch arrangements work properly, they have been subject to wear.

Therefore, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a releasable heel hold-down device which utilizes wear-free release means that are easy to operate either manually or by means of a ski pole.

To solve the problems previously experienced, a

rocker is articulated on the base part of the device so that it can be swiveled against the pressure of a spring. The device includes a heel hold-down member supported on another rocker or on the housing for the device with a toggle lever assembly interconnecting the two rockers. The toggle lever assembly includes first toggle lever members vpivotally attached to the rocker articulated to the base part and a second toggle lever pivotallyjoined to the first toggle levers and in turn articulated to the rocker on which the hold-down member is supported. The position of the pivotal connection between the toggle levers and between the other parts to which they are connected are arranged so that the connection between the toggle levers in the holding position of the device is below the pivot axis of the connection of the first toggle lever to the rocker. In displacing the device between the holding position and the release position, the pivot axis of the first toggle levers to the rocker passes through an over-dead center position determined by the line connecting the pivotal axes of the second toggle lever for effecting the required movement of the device between its holding and release positions.

It has already been known. to use toggle lever arrangements in a releasable heel hold-down device for a ski binding. However, the toggle lever assembly used, according to the present invention, in connection with a swivel rocker has the effect that, during the passage between the holding position and the released position in the event release is caused by excessive pressure of the heel on the hold-down part, the pivotal movement of the rocker effects the release movement of the toggle lever assembly. On the other hand, if the releasing action is accomplished by a release lever, the rocker cooperates in the release movement of the toggle lever assembly and, in fact, enhances it. In releasing the heel hold-down member by manual manipulation of the release lever or by depressing the lever with the point of a ski pole, short operating paths and relatively low operating forces are involved in displacing the release lever. If the releasing action is caused by an excessive upward pressure of the ski boot heel on the hold-down member, the full biasing force of the spring must be overcome withthe device snapping abruptly into the release position after passing the dead center position.

In this arrangement the use of parts subject to wear is avoided. The heel hold-down member which overlaps the edge of the sole at the heel of the boot in the holding position, can be secured rigidly to the housing or articulated to it by means of a rocker. If the hold-down member is connected by means of the rocker, it is advisable, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, to articulate the housing on the base part in the manner of a crank, with the rocker forming the crank and the housing being displaceably mounted and supported on the base part at the opposite end from the heel hold-down member. During this crank-type up and down movement of the housing and the heel hold-down member, the opening formed between the hold-down member and aheel plate on the housing is opened and closed. This kinetic mechanism, known-in itself, can be combined with the above described arrangement of the invention with the axis of the rocker on the housing coinciding with the axis of the pivotal attachment of the toggle lever assembly to the housing. When the device is moved to the release position, the hold-down member performs an additional pivotal movement relative to the housing which enhances the releasing process.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: I

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a first embodiment of the invention with the device shown in the holding position;

FIG. 2 is a view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with the device in the release position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 40 to 4d are perspective views of individual components of the device shown in FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 1, illustrating a second embodiment of the invention with the device disposed in the holding position; and

FIG. 6 is another view similar to FIGS. 1 and 5 illustrating a third embodiment of the invention with the device arranged in the release position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 4d, a releasable heel hold-down device of a ski binding is mounted on a ski l. The device includes a' base part 2 secured, for example, by screws or held in position by longitudinally extending guides 29, note FIG. 3, which afford a small amount of longitudinal displacement against the action of a spring. Pivotally secured to the base part about a pivot axis 3 is a rocker 4 which is biased in the lefthand direction as viewed in FIG. 1 by a spring 5. While the lefthand end of the spring 5 bears against the rocker 4 its righthand end bears against an adjustable spring support 6 mounted in the end of a housing 7. At the opposite end of the housing 7 from the support 6, that is the end of the housing which secures a ski boot heel on the ski, a heel plate 8 is integrally formed with the housing and a heel hold-down member 9 which cooperates with the heel plate is articulated to a rocker 10. The rocker I is pivotally mounted on the housing about a pivot axis 11 and rearwardly, that is in the righthand direction of FIG. 1, it is pivotally attached to the base part 2 about a pivot axis 12. The hold-down member 9 is secured on and is vertically adjustable relative to the rocker by means of an elevating screw.

Adjacent the end of the housing remote from the heel hold-down member are journals 13 which extend laterally. outwardly into longitudinally extending slots 14 formed in the base part 2. The slots extend angularly upwardly relative to the horizontal direction of the ski 1 toward the forward end of the housing, that is the end I at which the hold-down member is located. The housing 7 is mounted in the device in the manner of a crank, that is, the rocker 10 which is pivotally connected to the housing and the base part by means of the axes 11 and 12 forms the crank with the housing representing the connecting rod provided by the journals 13 which slide within the slot guides 14 in the base part. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the housing has pivoted upwardly I from its location in the holding position and the holdtoggle levers can be more easily appreciated if the illustration in FIGS. 4a to 4d is considered along with that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The toggle lever 15 is pivotally attached to the rocker 4 about an axis 17 and it is pivotally joined to the second toggle lever 16 about another axis 18. The second toggle lever is also pivotally connected to the housing about the axis 11. Preferably, the toggle levers are designed as pairs, note FIG. 3, however, while the first toggle levers are separate members the second toggle levers are interconnected. Furthermore, a release lever 19 is mounted within the housing above the rocker 4 and the second toggle lever 16. The release lever 19 is also pivotally connected to the housing about the axis '11 and it can be manipulated manually or by means of the point of a ski pole.

In FIG. 1 the component parts of the device are I shown in the holding position. The pivot axis 11, 17 and 18 form a flat triangle with the axis17 located between the other two axes Hand 18 being in the over-dead.

center position, that is, on the hold-down member side of the line connecting the pivot axes l1 and 18 of the second toggle lever 16. It is advisable to locate the axis 17 through the rocker 4 and the first toggle lever 15 between the hold-down member 9 and the other pivot axis 3 of the rocker and, in addition, upwardly above the pivot axis 3. In the arrangement of the device shown in F IG. 1, the toggle lever assembly is closed and the device retains the heel of a ski boot on the ski, not shown in the drawing.

In displacing the device into the release position, shown in FIG. 2, the releasing action can be achieved either by pressing downwardly on the release lever 19 or by a corresponding upward pressure exerted by the heel of the ski boot on the hold-down member 9. When the release lever is depressed in achieving the releasing action, it presses against the upwardly facing surface 21 on the rocker 4 and against the shoulders 20 on the second toggle lever. As a result, the pivot axis 18 is displaced on a circular are about the axis 11 and. at-the same time, the axis 17 moves in a circular arc aboutthe axis 3. Additionally, the axis 11 pivots about'the axis 12 and, at the beginning stages of the pivotal movement, the axis 17 is located between the two axes 11 and 18 4 through the second'toggle lever. As the first toggle levers 15 continue to turn in a clockwise direction about the axis 17 the various components of the device arrive in the release position of FIG. 2 in which they are held in the open over-dead center position of the toggle lever assembly, due to the biasing action of the spring and the location of the axis 17 which is now located below the connecting line extending between the axes 3 and 18. As can be noted in FIG. 1, the axis 17 is located above the connecting line between the axes 3 and 18.

It is up to the discretion of the designer to select the distance of the axis 17 from the dead center line connecting axes 11 and 18 from the line connecting axes 3 and 18 in the positions represented in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the embodiment just described, the distance of the axis 17 from the line through axes 11 and 18 is very small in the holding position (FIG; 1) which is a preferred embodiment, so that only small opening forces and very short opening paths are required for'operating the release lever 19. Further, the opening of the device can also be accomplished by pulling on a safety strap 22 which is secured to the front end 19' of the release lever 19, that is the end adjacent the hold-down member 9. In the embodiment of the invention represented in FIGS. 1 to 4d the following effects are present; when a release is effected manually or by depressing the release lever or by pulling upwardly on the safety strap,

a displacement of the hold-down member is achieved, since the release lever 19 initially presses on the shoulder 21 of the rocker 4 and turns it clockwise against the action of the spring 5. At the same time, the rocker I0 is tilted about its pivot axes and the housing 7 and the hold-down member 9 are pivoted upwardly.

If the release action is effected by an excessive upward pressure of the boot against the hold-down member 9, the force is transmitted through the rocker 10, the second toggle lever 16 and the first toggle lever 15, pivoting about the axes ll, l8 and 17, to the rocker 4. Initially it appears that only rocker 4 moves about its axis 3 without any movement of the second toggle lever 16. Accordingly, the hold-down member 9 and the housing 7 must move upwardly over a relatively long release path until the axis 17 has passed through the dead center line between the axes l1 and 18.

To move the device from the release position i'llustrated in FIG. 2 into the holding position of FIG. 1, it is necessary to press the heel plate 8 downwardly toward the ski. This downward movement results in a rotation of the crank or rocker about the axes I1 and 12 and also of the toggle levers I5 and 16 about their pivot axes. As soon as the axis 18 pivots into a position below the fulcrum 17, the further movement of the various components into the holding position is effected automatically under the biasing action of the spring 5. A stop 23 on the second toggle lever 16, which interconnects the opposite sides of the toggle lever, fixes the position of the toggle lever relative to the rocker 4 in the holding position, note FIGS. I and 4b.

In the last phase of the movement into the holding position the forward edge of the rocker 4 contacts the stop 23 and presses the toggle lever into the holding position.

By selecting the position of the four axes 3, ll, 17 and 18, the vertical elasticity of the heel hold-down device can be varied while the toggle lever assembly remains locked, that is, the point can be determined within certain limits in which the dead center line is traversed and the device is released. Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 5 in which the hold-down member 9 is directly connected to the housing 7. The rocker 10 can be operated not only by depressing the release lever but also by pulling upwardly on the safety strap 22. The safety strap 22 is secured in an eye of part 1.9 which is rigidly connected to the release lever and, preferably, is formed integrally with it. With the exception of these differences, the arrangement and articulation of the rocker 4 and the toggle levers I5 and 16 is essentially the same as in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 441. In FIG. 5 the components of the device are shown in the position reached shortly after the axis 17 has passed through the dead center line between axes I1 and 18 during the releasing operation.

When the device is released by hand or by the action of the ski boot-against the hold-down member, the function of the device shown in FIG. 5 is the same as that shown in FIGS. 1 to 4d. However, there is the difference that when the release is effected by the action of the ski boot against the hold-down member, the releasing force is transmitted from the hold-down member over the housing to the release means. As a result, the housing must bedesigned for the transmission of such a force. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4d, however, the housing can be formed of plastic since only relatively weak forces are acting on the housing.

While in the embodiments of FIGS. 1-4d and 5, the housing is articulated in the manner of a crank by means of the rocker l0 and the journals l3 sliding in the slot guides 14 of the base part, the crank arrangement is not used in the embodiment of FIG. 6. Instead, the journals 13 extending laterally from the housing are rotatably mounted in bores in the side walls of the base part 2. Components of the device which have the same function as in the other embodiments are designated with the same numbers as used in the embodiments of FIG. 1 and FIG. 5. In FIG. 6 the device is shown in the fully released position. In place of the stop 23 of FIG. 5, a stop 23' is provided on the under side of the toggle lever 16. When the stop 23 bears against the first toggle lever it locks the device in the open or release position.

Further, in FIG. 6, the second toggle lever 16 has a bearing surface 24 which contacts the bolt forming the axis 3 when the housing is pushed downwardly and, as a result, has the function of ahinged supportv This arrangement effects the rotation of the second toggle so that snow cannot find its way into the interior of the housing,

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the inventive principles, it will be understood that'the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. Releasable heel hold-down device comprising a base part arranged to be mounted on a ski and to extend in the horizontal direction of the ski, said base part having a first end located adjacent the portion of the heel of a ski boot on the ski and a second end spaced from the position of the heel, a pivotally mounted heel hold-down member located at the first end of said base part, a housing pivotally mounted on said base part, adjustable spring means including a spring extending in the longitudinal direction of the ski and located within said housing, a heel plate connected to said housing and located adjacent the first end of said base part, wherein the improvement comprises a first rocker lodated within said housing and pivotally mounted on said base part for rotation about a first axis extending transversely of the longitudinal direction of the ski, said adjustable spring means biasing said first rocker in the direction of said heel hold-down member, a toggle lever assembly located within said housing and comprising at least one first toggle lever and at least one second toggle lever, said first toggle lever pivotally attached to said first rocker about a second axis extending transversely of the longitudinal direction of the ski and spaced from said first axis, said second toggle lever pivotally attached to said first toggle lever about a third axis extending transversely of the longitudinal direction of the ski and spaced from said second axis and said second toggle lever pivotally mounted on said housing about a fourth axis extending transversely of the longitudinal direction of the ski, in the holding position said first toggle lever is arranged with said second axis located above said third axis and below said fourth axis with said third and fourth axesforming an upwardly extending dead center line for said toggle lever assembly and said second axis being located on the side of the dead center line closer to said hold-down member, and in displacing said hold-down member from the holding position to the release position said second axis passes over the dead center line connecting said third and fourth axes so that it is on the opposite side of the dead center line from said hold-down member.

2. A releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a manually operable release lever is pivotally mounted on said fourth axis and is displaceable from the holding position of the device into contact with said first rocker and said second toggle lever for effecting movement of said hold-down member into the release position, and said second toggle lever having an upwardly extending shoulder thereon at its end more remote from said hold-down member arranged to be positioned in closely spaced relation below said release lever in the holding position of the device.

3. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein, in the holding and release positions, said second axis of said rocker is located closer to said hold-down member than the first axis and is located upwardly from said first axis.

4. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the effective length of said first toggle lever is smaller than the effective length of said second toggle lever.

5. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said third axis common to said first and second toggle levers is located, in the release position of the device, above the extension of the line connecting the first axis and the second axis.

6. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second toggle lever having a downwardly directed bearing surface located rearwardly of said third axis relative to said hold-down member, said bearing surface arranged to contact said first axis when said second toggle lever is displaced from the release position to the holding position of the device.

7. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 6, wherein a stop is formed on said second toggle lever and is arranged to contact said first toggle lever in the release position of the device for preventing further movement of the component parts of the device in the movement into the release position.

8. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a laterally extending journal located adjacent the end of said housing more remote from said heel hold-down member, said base part having a slot in which said journal is positioried, a second rocker pivotally connected about said fourth axis to said housing and pivotally connected about a fifth axis to said base part, said fifth axis being located rearwardly from said fourth axis relative to said heel hold-down member so that said housing is articulated to said base part in the manner of a crank with said housing mounted by means of said journal in said slot for displacement and with said second rocker form ing a lever interconnecting said base part and said housing. I

9. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said heel hold-down member is articulated to said second rocker at a position forward of said fourth axis relative to said heel hold-down member.

10. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a stop is formed on said second toggle lever located above said fourth axis and said stop is arranged to contact said first rocker in the holding position of the device.

11. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said housing has an opening in the upper surface thereof, said releasable lever having a projecting portion positioned within and extending upwardly through the opening in said housing, said first rocker having an upwardly directed projection thereon located below said release lever and disposed in spaced relationship to said release lever in the holding position of the device and arranged to contact said release lever in the release position of the device for maintaining the projecting portion of said release lever within the opening in said housing.

12. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the slot in said base part extends at an acute angle to the horizontal direction of the ski and is inclined upwardly toward the first end of said base part.

13. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a pair of said first toggle levers are disposed in oppositely arranged laterally spaced relationship on the second and third axes, and said second toggle lever comprisesa pair of oppositely arranged laterally spaced lever members mounted on said third and fourth axes with a stop member extending between and interconnecting said lever members. 

1. Releasable heel hold-down device comprising a base part arranged to be mounted on a ski and to extend in the horizontal direction of the ski, said base part having a first end located adjacent the portion of the heel of a ski boot on the ski and a second end spaced from the position of the heel, a pivotally mounted heel hold-down member located at the first end of said base part, a housing pivotally mounted on said base part, adjustable spring means including a spring extending in the longitudinal direction of the ski and located within said housing, a heel plate connected to said housing and located adjacent the first end of said base part, wherein the improvement comprises a first rocker located within said housing and pivotally mounted on said base part for rotation about a first axis extending transversely of the longitudinal direction of the ski, said adjustable spring means biasing said first rocker in the direction of said heel hold-down member, a toggle lever assembly located within said housing and comprising at least one first toggle lever and at least one second toggle lever, said first toggle lever pivotally attached to said first rocker about a second axis extending transversely of the longitudinal direction of the ski and spaced from said first axis, said second toggle lever pivotally attached to said first toggle lever about a third axis extending transversely of the longitudinal direction of the ski and spaced from said second axis and said second toggle lever pivotally mounted on said housing about a fourth axis extending transversely of the longitudinal direction of the ski, in the holding position said first toggle lever is arranged with said second axis located above said third axis and below said fourth axis with said third and fourth axes forming an upwardly extending dead center line for said toggle lever assembly and said second axis being located on the side of the dead center line closer to said hold-down member, and in displacing said hold-down member from the holding position to the release position said second axis passes over the dead center line connecting said third and fourth axes so that it is on the opposite side of the dead center line from said hold-down member.
 2. A releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a manually operable release lever is pivotally mounted on said fourth axis and is displaceable from the holding position of the device into contact with said first rocker and said second toggle lever for effecting movement of said hold-down member into the release position, and said second toggle lever having an upwardly extending shoulder thereon at its end more remote from said hold-down member arranged to be positioned in closely spaced relation below said release lever in the holding position of the device.
 3. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein, in the holding and release positions, said second axis of said rocker is located closer to said hold-down member than the first axis and is located upwardly from said first axis.
 4. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the effective length of said first toggle lever is smaller than the effective length of said second toggle lever.
 5. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said third axis common to said first and second toggle levers is located, in the release position of the device, above the extension of the line connecting the first axis and the second axis.
 6. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said second toggle lever having a downwardly directed bearing surface located rearwardly of said third axis relative to said hold-down member, said bearing surface arranged to contact said first axis when said second toggle lever is displaced from the release position to the holding position of the device.
 7. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 6, wherein a stop is formEd on said second toggle lever and is arranged to contact said first toggle lever in the release position of the device for preventing further movement of the component parts of the device in the movement into the release position.
 8. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a laterally extending journal located adjacent the end of said housing more remote from said heel hold-down member, said base part having a slot in which said journal is positioned, a second rocker pivotally connected about said fourth axis to said housing and pivotally connected about a fifth axis to said base part, said fifth axis being located rearwardly from said fourth axis relative to said heel hold-down member so that said housing is articulated to said base part in the manner of a crank with said housing mounted by means of said journal in said slot for displacement and with said second rocker forming a lever interconnecting said base part and said housing.
 9. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said heel hold-down member is articulated to said second rocker at a position forward of said fourth axis relative to said heel hold-down member.
 10. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a stop is formed on said second toggle lever located above said fourth axis and said stop is arranged to contact said first rocker in the holding position of the device.
 11. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said housing has an opening in the upper surface thereof, said releasable lever having a projecting portion positioned within and extending upwardly through the opening in said housing, said first rocker having an upwardly directed projection thereon located below said release lever and disposed in spaced relationship to said release lever in the holding position of the device and arranged to contact said release lever in the release position of the device for maintaining the projecting portion of said release lever within the opening in said housing.
 12. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the slot in said base part extends at an acute angle to the horizontal direction of the ski and is inclined upwardly toward the first end of said base part.
 13. Releasable heel hold-down device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a pair of said first toggle levers are disposed in oppositely arranged laterally spaced relationship on the second and third axes, and said second toggle lever comprises a pair of oppositely arranged laterally spaced lever members mounted on said third and fourth axes with a stop member extending between and interconnecting said lever members. 